MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), issued the following statement after the House advanced FY26 government spending bills that include major investments to strengthen health care in South Texas and nationwide:

“This is a clear win for patients, providers, and communities that depend on a strong health care system,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These bills make real investments, stop real cuts, and give health care providers the support they need to keep serving people where they live.

“Health care is a cost-of-living issue for families. When community clinics can see more patients, rural hospitals can keep essential services in place, and providers have the stability to keep delivering care, costs come down and access goes up. These bills move us forward with purpose.”

The FY26 government spending bills include $4.6 billion in mandatory funding for Community Health Centers through 2026, representing the largest funding increase in a decade and nearly $1.2 billion more than previously proposed. This funding expands access to primary and preventive care, particularly in areas where community health centers serve as the front door to the health care system.

The legislation also prevents $16 billion in hospital cuts by eliminating two years of reductions that would have disproportionately affected vulnerable patients. By maintaining this funding, hospitals can continue offering essential services and responding to community needs.

The bills further strengthen Medicaid support for providers serving vulnerable populations and provide nearly $2 billion in value-based Medicare payments to physicians. These encourage high-quality care and help ensure timely access to services for seniors and patients with complex medical needs.

In addition to funding, the FY26 legislation advances policies to support the health care workforce, improve preventive care, and extend key programs that benefit rural hospitals, telehealth services, behavioral health providers, and maternal health initiatives.

“These investments matter,” Congressman Cuellar added. “They strengthen care close to home, provide certainty for providers, and deliver better outcomes for families. That is a real result, and it is worth fighting for.”

Congressman Cuellar continues to support practical funding solutions that expand access to care, strengthen local providers, and improve health outcomes for families across South Texas.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting yes yesterday on a package of three Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) spending bills. The package passed the House with bipartisan support on a 341-88 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“These funding bills will create jobs, expand access to education and give a pay raise to servicemembers in Northwest Washington and across the country,” said Rep. Larsen. “My colleagues in Congress and I continue to ignore the President’s requests to end critical government services. I will keep fighting for the people I represent and holding the Trump administration accountable to spending these funds as Congress has directed.”

Larsen and Congress Reject Trump’s Cuts

Despite the President’s requests to eliminate funding for jobs, education and health services the American people rely on, Congress continued to fund those priorities. The final package of bills funds the following agencies and programs, all of which the President proposed eliminating or significantly cutting: 

• $116 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which supports critical public health investments at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); 

• $13.7 billion for the Department of Labor; 

• $79 billion for the Department of Education, along with language clearly stating no authority exists for the Department to offload its responsibilities to other agencies and requirements that the Department to maintain staff necessary to fulfill its functions; 

• $22.5 billion for Pell Grants, which help low-income students achieve bachelor’s and graduate degrees, rejecting the President’s proposal to cut Pell Grant awards by more than $1000; 

• $1.76 billion for the Job Corps program, which helps low-income young people in Northwest Washington and across the country complete college credits and professional certifications; 

• $557 million for AmeriCorps grants, which engages more than five million Americans in service through a variety of stipended volunteer work programs; 

• $292 million for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, which supports public libraries across Northwest Washington and the country; 

• $4.4 billion to Homeless Assistance Grants, including the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which is the largest source of federal funding for homeless services and housing programs; and 

• $15 million for the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which helps veterans in Northwest Washington obtain and keep stable housing. 

The final package of bills also rejects the President’s request for additional funding for military operations in Venezuela and the Caribbean. 

Larsen Priorities for Jobs, Education, Defense and World Cup Included

The bills provide funding to create jobs, help students access educational opportunities, support the military and prepare for the World Cup this summer:

Jobs 

• $95.8 million to help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers; 

• $4 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports and in 2023 provided more than $15 million for infrastructure projects at airports in Northwest Washington; 

• $40 million for Aviation Workforce Development Grants, which grow the talent pipeline of aviation workers and in 2022 awarded Aviation Technical Services in Everett a $459,206 grant to support careers in aviation maintenance; 

• $6.2 million for research into stormwater management to reduce the impacts of 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone on salmon-bearing streams; 

• $25 million for ferry grants, with $4 million set aside for low- and no-emission ferries; 

• $145 million for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, which enables communities of all sizes to carry out road, rail, transit and other surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact; 

• $35 million for Small Shipyard Grant Program, which helps shipyards modernize, increase productivity and create jobs; 

• $103 million for Port Infrastructure Development Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods in ports; 

• $38.4 billion for Section 8 vouchers, which help low-income families, particularly those with seniors or individuals with disabilities, afford housing; 

Education 

• $12.4 billion for Head Start, which provides early learning, health, and family well-being services to children and families; 

• $1.2 billion for TRIO, which help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education;  

• $12.4 billion for Impact Aid, which provides funding for school districts impacted by a federal presence and ensures they can provide a quality education; and $70 million for Department of Defense supplemental Impact Aid for schools serving large populations of military families; 

Defense and World Cup 

• 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers; 

• $400 million for assistance to Ukraine, $100 million more than FY25; and  

• $194 million for public transportation assistance relating to the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2026 World Cup (Rep. Larsen introduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to ensure transit agencies would get funding prior to these events). 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Bera, & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Access to General Surgery in Underserved Communities

Bipartisan legislation directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study and designate general surgery shortage areas

WASHINGTON – Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Scott Peters (CA-50), and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) introduced the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to strengthen how the federal government identifies communities that lack access to general surgeons and to help expand access to care by establishing a framework for general surgery shortage areas.

Rural communities face persistent workforce challenges when accessing general surgery care. A 2020 HRSA report found that rural areas have only 69 percent of the general surgeons needed to meet demand. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that demand for surgeons will continue to outpace supply nationwide, resulting in a shortage of 10,100 to 19,900 surgeons by 2036.

“I’m pleased to join Rep. Bera in introducing the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act, which will direct HRSA to conduct a comprehensive, data-driven study of how we can better identify general surgery shortage areas,” said Rep. Bacon. “By examining factors from travel times to hospital capabilities, we can ensure federal resources are targeted where they’re needed most to help families in rural Nebraska and communities nationwide.”

“As a physician, I’ve seen how delays in care can turn treatable conditions into emergencies,” said Rep. Bera. “When families can’t access a general surgeon close to home, it can mean hours on the road, longer wait times, and worse outcomes. This bipartisan bill will help us better identify where the gaps are so we can strengthen access to timely surgical care and make sure your ZIP code doesn’t determine whether you can get the care you need.”

“Americans should receive quality health care, no matter where they live,” said Rep. Peters. “Unfortunately, many communities don’t have access to general surgery, preventing many patients from getting the care they need. The first step toward improving access to general surgery is knowing where these underserved populations are. Then, we can work to expand access to care and lower costs for San Diegans and patients everywhere.”

“As a physician, I know firsthand how important it is for American patients to have access to the care they need, where they live. This is particularly relevant in rural areas such as Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District,” said Rep. Joyce. “Every American should have access to high-quality care, including general surgery, in their community. By investing in data to pinpoint geographical gaps in patient care, this legislation would address long-standing imbalances and adequately expand access for patients throughout the country.” 

“In light of growing evidence demonstrating a maldistribution of general surgeons, the American College of Surgeons believes that additional research is necessary to better understand where critical shortage areas exist,” said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons. “Determining where patients lack access to surgical services and designating a formal surgical shortage area will provide the Department of Health and Human Services with a valuable new tool for increasing access to the full spectrum of high-quality health care services. Incentivizing general surgeons to locate or remain in communities with workforce shortages is critical in guaranteeing all patients, regardless of geographic location, have access to quality surgical care. We thank Representatives Ami Bera, MD, John Joyce, MD, Scott Peters, and Don Bacon for their continued leadership on this important issue.”

The Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act directs HRSA to study how underserved populations access general surgeons and evaluate whether existing federal shortage designations accurately reflect access to surgical care. The bill directs HRSA to evaluate a data-driven method to identify general surgery shortage areas, taking into account factors like travel time, wait times, health outcomes, and critical access hospitals with surgical capabilities but lacking a general surgeon. The legislation would ensure consultation with stakeholders, require a report to Congress within one year, and provide for ongoing public reporting and regular updates to shortage area designations.

Read the full text of the legislation here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Defense Subcommittee, issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 7148, which funds the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; and H.R. 7147, which funds the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security:

“House Republicans have delivered on our promise to the American people by passing legislation that prioritizes America’s security, prosperity, and future, while cutting wasteful spending, rooting out inefficiencies, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. The appropriations package once again demonstrates that, under Chairman Tom Cole’s steadfast leadership, we are fulfilling our fundamental duty to serve the American people by keeping the government funded and avoiding another disastrous government shutdown.

These bills strengthen America’s deterrence by supporting the day-to-day readiness of our brave men and women in uniform, investing in proven priorities that save lives and expand opportunity, modernizing our transportation and transit systems, and protecting the homeland from terrorists, narco-traffickers, criminals, and others who wish us harm.

Importantly, these bills reflect a disciplined approach to governance, targeting funding toward proven priorities, eliminating duplicative and outdated programs, and demanding accountability from federal agencies.

I commend Chairman Tom Cole for these accomplishments and thank Subcommittee Chairmen Ken Calvert, Robert Aderholt, and Steve Womack for working directly with me to address key priorities in Florida and for my constituents in FL-26.”

Below are Funding Highlights for Florida’s 26th Congressional District:

Bolsters our Defense capabilities and provides for our servicemen and women

• Directs the Secretary of Defense to maintain the current U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters and mission, recognizing its critical role in protecting U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, countering transnational threats such as drug trafficking, and promoting stability throughout Latin America and the Caribbean
• $350.8M for SOUTHCOM and counternarcotics activity
• Delivers a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and continues historic pay increases for junior enlisted service members
• $27B increase over the FY23 enacted level, and directs that funding to critical national defense efforts, including countering the People’s Republic of China (PRC), increasing counternarcotics efforts, and investing in quality-of-life initiatives for servicemembers and their families
• Maxes out production of critical munitions
• Doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan
• Invests in next-generation fighter aircraft, helicopters, tactical combat vehicles, and submarines
• Prohibits the President from being able to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility or transfer detainees to the United States.
• Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.
• Local businesses in FL-26 with proven products are allowed to compete for $35M for the Enhanced Ballistic Armor Protection Systems
• Invests in 5th and 6^th-generation aircraft
• Continues modernizing the nuclear triad and invests in the new Golden Dome missile defense system
• Accelerates funding for hypersonic weapon systems
• Includes funding for 17 new ships

Supports our local community with over $30M for local projects

• $9M for the Collier County VeteransCommunityCenter Project
• $7.2M for the Everglades CityCommunityCenter Project
• $2M for the Feasibility Analysis for Proposed Interchange at I-75 and Everglades Boulevard Project
• $6M for the I-75 Project Development and Environmental Study, NW 107thStreet and NW 154th Street Project
• $973,000 for the Miami Lakes Big Cypress Drainage Improvements Project
• $4.9M for the City of Hialeah Southeast Hialeah Stormwater Improvements Project

Continues the investments into our nation’s infrastructure and public safety

• $145M for the National Transportation Safety Board, a critical independent agency in the wake of near-misses at airports nationwide and train derailments.
• $4B for facilities and equipment through the FAA
• $10.34B to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce
• $309.5M through the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Administration, to fully fund safety efforts with increases to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to hazardous materials incidents

Provides housing opportunities to our most vulnerable populations

• Increased to $18.543B for Project-Based Rental Assistance, which provides full renewal of housing contracts serving 1.3 million households
• Increased to $1.03M for Housing for the Elderly, which provides a full renewal of housing contracts serving 123,000 households
• Increase to $287M for Housing for Persons with Disabilities, serving 33,000 households
• Maintains housing assistance for vulnerable Americans, including the elderly disabled, and veterans by:
• Providing full renewal for all currently-leased, tenant-based rental assistance vouchers, all project-based rental assistance contracts, and all housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities contracts
• Rental assistance vouchers for veterans
• Funding for the Melania Trump foster youth rental assistance vouchers
• Increase to $4.4B for Homeless Assistance Grants
• $3.3B for Community Development Block Grants
• $529M for housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and persons with disabilities
• $158M for Neighborworks, helping local communities’ partner with the public and private sector to provide housing

Supporting our seniors

• Increase to $16.2M for Prostate Cancer research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• $10M for providing increased access to Advanced Cancer Screening in Underserved Communities
• $180M for Polio Eradication
• $2.5B for Older Americans Act programs  

Ensuring the safety of our schools

• $5M for the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center, to provide critical training for our nation’s schools, houses of worship, and communities
• Report language regarding research and training on targeted school violence conducted by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center
• Report language reiterating grant eligibility under the Urban Areas Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grants for school hardening measures like, bullet resistant doors and glass; suing-locking mechanisms; immediate notification to emergency 911 systems; and installation of countermeasure technology administrated by law enforcement to provide real time actionable response during threats

Promoting early childhood development, school-choice and higher education

• $12.4B for Head Start
• Increased to $500M for Charter Schools Grants
• $231M for Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program
• $22.47B for Pell Grants and sets the maximum award to $6,335
• $15.49B for special education

Continuing the fight against the opioid epidemic

• $1.583B for State Targeted Response to Opioid Crisis Grants
• Increase to $7M for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers
• Increased funding to $299M for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program

Ensuring resources to keep our nation and communities safe

• Supporting security preparation and planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events:
• $44.6M for National Special Security Events
• $25M to support security efforts
• $3.4M for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems
• $100M for supplemental support for transit agencies in the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Bolstering disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders
• $26.4B for the Disaster Relief Fund to support response and recovery efforts following major disasters and emergencies
• $398.1M for Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to strengthen training capacity and enhance public safety
• $684M for Assistance to Firefighters and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants to recruit, train, and equip frontline firefighters
• Securing our border by providing $513M to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities
• Protect critical infrastructure, prevent cyberattacks, and strengthen cybersecurity resilience:
• $2.6B for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• $20M to hire critical positions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to counter the threat from China
• $13.9B for the U.S. Coast Guard for maritime security, search and rescue and law enforcement
• $300M for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to support houses of worship and other eligible organizations at risk of a terrorist attack
• $6.1B for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce
• $1.9M for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Over-the-Road Bus Security grants for transportation infrastructure security activities
• $297.1M for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to help communities identify, assess, and mitigate their flood risk

Other district priorities included in the funding bills

• Maintains $1.9B to support community health centers that provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care in underserved communities.
• $2.57B for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program 
• $25M for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund, an account I have long supported and fought for
• $27.8M for Poison Control Centers in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $19M for survivors of torture in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $2.3B for the program integrity to safeguard the Social Security system for all Americans
• $83.2B for the Social Security Administration to support frontline services for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries through field office visits, calls, and online services

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), along with House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and all House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, introduced theEvan Anzoo Memorial Act, legislation to create a formal U.S. government account of the hundreds of thousands of deaths resulting from the Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID and its lifesaving programs. 

For the past 20 years, the generosity of the American people through USAID has saved 91 million lives around the globe – at the cost of less than 1% of our federal budget. 

Yet, on January 24th, 2025, the Trump Administration abruptly shut down the lifesaving agency with a disastrous stop-work order that cut recipients around the world off from lifesaving care overnight. As a result, some 600,000 people have died in the past year after being cut off of lifesaving health and food aid provided by USAID – about two thirds of them children. One of those children was Evan Anzoo, a 5 year old boy born with HIV and kept alive through American health aid. After the Trump Administration cut of USAID programs overnight, Evan lost access to his HIV medication and died shortly after. A study by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health estimates that USAID’s continued dismantling will lead to 14 million additional deaths globally by 2030, including more than 4.5 million children under five. 

Despite top U.S. research institutions and publications reporting on hundreds of thousands of deaths occurring this year due to the Trump Administration’s USAID’s shuttering, Secretary Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that “no one has died” from USAID’s dismantling, and that “no children are dying on [his] watch.”

“Secretary Rubio came before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and lied to America when he claimed ‘no one has died’ from Trump’s USAID shuttering. That was a bold-faced lie – but if Republicans are so confident in his answer, they should support my legislation to have Congress’s watchdog issue an independent and formal review of how many people have died as a result of this evil policy,” Sherman said. “Instead, all House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans voted against this legislation in September because they are afraid of the truth.”

“Despite numerous denials and outright obfuscation by the administration – including Secretary Rubio’s claim that no one has died as a result of U.S. foreign assistance cuts – the reality is far more damning. Millions of preventable deaths will have occurred as a direct result of Trump’s evisceration of USAID. These cruel decisions demand real accountability and oversight. The Evan Anzoo Memorial Act will help ensure the American public and Congress confront the true human consequences of these policies,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

The American people overwhelmingly support providing lifesaving foreign aid around the world; they deserve to know the true impact of the Trump Administration’s deadly dismantling of USAID and whether the Secretary of State lied before Congress. The Evan Anzoo Memorial Act will create a formal report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s independent and nonpartisan watchdog, as to how many people around the world have died as a result of this policy.

All House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats joined Sherman and Meeks in introducing this legislation: Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Rep. Bill Keating (MA-09), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. George Latimer (NY-16), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Rep. Julie Johnson (TX-32), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06).

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“I’m so proud to help retore this critical bipartisan, bicameral funding that curbs the Trump Administration’s cruel push to gut public services and helps restore our legislative purse strings, while also vital funding the medial research, national defense and education programs that make life healthier and more secure in South Florida,” said Wasserman Schultz, Ranking Member on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. “The reason I fight so hard in Washington is so I can deliver cancer screenings, mammograms, drowning prevention programs and vital road, port and university research back home, and help keep our community safer, stronger and economically thriving.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

I rise in support of this resolution because I simply do not trust this President to truly prioritize democracy and the will of the Venezuelan people. I represent one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the country. Many of my constituents fled brutal repression under Chavez and Maduro.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Nadler Celebrates World Trade Center Health Program Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — In case you missed it, yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Morning Joe on MS NOW to discuss former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s public testimony.  

Neguse served as an impeachment manager during Donald Trump’s 2nd trial in front of the United States Senate on the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He underscored the importance of holding Trump accountable for his efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election and pushing for the preservation of the peaceful transfer of power. 

The interview can be watched HERE. A full transcript is available below.  

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Joining us now, Assistant Democratic Leader Congressman Joe Neguse of Colorado. He’s a member of the House Judiciary Committee and was an impeachment manager during Senate trials pertaining to the January 6th insurrection. Well, let’s — What are you hoping to hear from Jack Smith? What will you be most interested in asking? 

NEGUSE: Well, good morning, Mika. Good to be with you. First, let me just say I find it completely puzzling why Jim Jordan and Republicans have decided to proceed with this hearing in the first instance. I participated in the deposition of the Special Counsel last month. He’s an exceptional prosecutor. I found his answers to be compelling and persuasive. Every answer to questions that were made in bad faith by the Republicans was were cogent answers. And I can’t understand why Republicans want to now give him an opportunity to remind the American public of the body of evidence that exists that shows that President Trump engaged in unlawful and nefarious conduct in the days and weeks after the 2020 election, and, of course, culminating in January 6th. Which, as you mentioned, he was impeached for on a bipartisan basis, and ultimately, 57 votes in the United States Senate on a bipartisan basis for conviction.  

So the American public are going to have an opportunity to hear from Mr. Smith, as we did behind closed doors last month, and I believe that they will find his arguments very compelling. I suppose Republicans have decided that this is a way to obfuscate away from their lack of governing, and the fact that they have just over the course of the last 12 months, made life for everyday Americans a lot more expensive. And, perhaps this is a way for them to kind of engage — change the conversation rather, from what they would like to otherwise be talking about. 

ARI MELBER: Congressman, Ari Melber here. Curious what you think is important to come out of this? We, of course, lived through it. We had the January 6th Committee, which did a lot of important work putting this before the public, and these cases were public until they were stopped, as you know. So how much of this is about adding to that record? And how much is about on your side of the aisle, making sure the public understands that what they’ve done before when they lost elections, they could try again, and sort of Trump-proofing the future elections if they don’t go their way. 

NEGUSE: That’s a great question, Ari. I think you’ll hear, or you’ll see, the Democratic members give the Special Counsel an opportunity to talk at greater length about the investigations that he conducted. The reality is, President Trump has engaged in a five-year effort now to rewrite history. And that was, of course, born from, in my view, the sort of original sin of the, you know, United States Senate abdicating its constitutional duty to hold President Trump accountable in the wake of January 6th.

And now, of course, five years later, a year ago today, when President Trump issued pardons to those who had violently assaulted our nation’s Capitol. So, unfortunately, the reality is President Trump has never been held accountable for his conduct. And I think that today’s hearing will provide an opportunity for Mr. Smith to remind the country of what Mr. Trump and his sycophants engaged in and the risk that, ultimately, I think, still exists for future elections and the peaceful transfer of power, which was once considered sacrosanct. But of course, we now know we can no longer take for granted in the United States. 

JOHN HEILEMANN: Hey, Congressman, John Heilemann here. Let me ask you about a different topic. Everybody right now, very focused, rightly so, on what’s going on in Minneapolis, with ICE and with ICE more broadly across the country and its enforcement practices. You’ve been focused on something that kind of that’s kind of been out of the public view, but is really important, which is, the king of “Detention Industrial Complex,” the private prisons that the administration have kind of created this network that they’re funding hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money going into those, you know, in a way where there’s not really been much oversight. I don’t think many people in the public are even aware of that kind of infrastructure that’s being built to support the ICE effort. Talk to us a little bit about what is happening on that front and what you’d like to see your colleagues in Congress do about it. 

NEGUSE: John, you articulated it well. I think it has been lost in some respects during the course of the debate around the terrible abuses that have been committed and the violation of constitutional rights by ICE officials. The reality is, it is part and parcel to the wholesale corruption that’s happened at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You are talking about hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars that are being used to fund what you described and what others have described as a Detention and Deportation Industrial Complex. Some of the wealthiest private contractors of ICE are making money hand over fist by virtue of the slush fund that House Republicans created last year for ICE, and, of course, today we’re debating yet another bill — $10.3 billion that House Republicans would like to allocate towards ICE. We’re fighting against that.  

I think it is shameful. It’s reprehensible. There are a lot of wealthy corporations and wealthy individuals making a lot of money ultimately on these abuses and these, the misconduct that you know the press has so, in my view, comprehensively uncovered over the course of the last few months. So more is needed — needs to be done. I think we should end for-profit detention, and I’m leading a bill in the Congress to try to stop it. 

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse of Colorado. Thank you. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, released the following statement applauding House passage of the final four Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills. This completes the work on all twelve annual spending bills. 

The final four spending bills passed include Defense; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. 

“I was honored to lead the effort to rein in spending and secure an America First future, while also ensuring these bills provide funding for critical projects that support jobs and growth in our districts,” said Congressman Aderholt. “Moving all 12 appropriations bills through the finish line is Congress’ first responsibility, but also the heaviest. Yesterday, we acted on that responsibility and delivered real results and real savings for all Americans.”

“For my part, I believe the Labor-HHS bill carefully balanced responsible fiscal stewardship while maintaining key investments in biomedical research, schools, and public health. Thanks to negotiations on a bicameral, bipartisan level, funding decisions moved through a deliberate, member-driven process on all appropriations bills that emphasize transparency, accountability, and timely consideration,” Aderholt added.

“Enactment of full-year appropriations implements provisions that keep our nation strong, secure, and competitive. We’ve shown that when committees assert their authority and do the work, results happen.”

Congressman Aderholt secured funding for several key community projects across Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District through the FY26 appropriations measures, with $44,563,000 included in the most recent package, $9,510,000 in the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration bill, and $2,174,898 from the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill – for a total of $56,277,898 secured. These investments strengthen community infrastructure and rural healthcare.

• Winston and Franklin Counties, AL – I-22 Connector Feasibility Studies

$5,000,000 for all feasibility and environmental studies.

• Cullman, AL – U.S. 278/SR 69 St. Bernard Bridge Replacement and Supporting Infrastructure

$13,500,000 to replace St. Bernard Bridge, widen the approaches, and add pedestrian and biking lanes.

• Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa National Airport – Airport Terminal Improvements 

$8,500,000 to design and renovate the old terminal.

• Albertville, AL – Albertville Regional Airport – Airport Expansions

$5,000,000 for White Oak Road to clear of land to allow for expansion of the airport for hangers and future runway expansion.

• Waterloo, AL – Waterloo Bridge Replacement

$7,000,000 for a new bridge on C.R. 14 to benefit interstate commerce on the TN River.

• Hanceville, AL – Wallace State Community College – Hanceville Affordable Housing 

$2,540,000 to construct tiny home village that will feature micro-dwellings equipped for living and offer childcare.

• Lauderdale County, AL – Agriculture Multipurpose Complex          

$1,500,000 for a metal building and installation, interior finishes, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, and electrical.

• Winston County, AL – Commission Resurfacing 

$1,553,000 to resurface County Road 57 to access the USDA Forest Service Corinth Recreation Area and resurface County Road 61 to access the USDA Forest Service Houston Recreation Area.

“I’m proud of the key investments made possible through the appropriations process, these investments strengthen our rural communities and improve the quality of life for Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District.”

The appropriations package now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass next week and be signed into law by the President.